Chapter VII: The Beginning of Tomorrow

Location: Club Faye
6:30 PM, Thursday

Club Faye was the hippest club in town, owned by Faye Valentine herself. Faye Valentine was a woman who, like all others, was just trying to make it in this world. She wasn't always a club owner. In fact, she used to be a bounty hunter (and deeply in debt) with a crew on a certain ship called "The Bebop". That was, until she hit the million dollar jackpot at a casino. With all that money, she left "The Bebop" and opened up her own club, "Club Faye".

The club was quite crowded, packed to the door, even. Many people danced, drank, hit on chicks, even guys. They played card games, slot machines, and whatever else you could possibly think of in a casino. There was even someone on stage playing soft jazz music...

...Wait a minute...

With a closer look, one could easily tell that the person playing the saxophone was none other than Midvalley the Hornfreak. What was he doing here?

Midvalley stood on stage, blowing into the mouthpiece of his beloved Silvia (does that sound wrong to anybody else?) with a passion that I couldn't begin to explain. To him, he was doing something he loved more than anything. To others, he was just a magician providing the feel good music with a talent that was incomparable.

Everyone around him listened intensely, captivated at how magnificent this young man played. It was as if he had become one with his instrument. Maybe he had. It was rare to see this Hornfreak away from his beloved Silvia. After a few more minutes of playing, the song came to an end, and everyone around him erupted into applause.

Midvalley took a bow before heading off stage to the bar area. He was a nice looking young man, around the age of 19, with a charm no woman could resist. Unfortunately for him, he hadn't the time to meet women, since he played at random clubs five hours a day, went to a part-time college, and hung out with his so-called gang leader, Knives. Yes, Midvalley was one of the most feared, more powerful members of the Gung-Ho-Guns, and he is never without his Silvia.

He pulled up a stool and sat down, waving the bartender over. The bartender gave him a once over before rolling his eyes and making his way over to Midvalley. "The drinking age is 21, kid."

The Hornfreak frowned before sighing. "Fine, just give me some water."

The bartender gave him a disapproving look before retreating to get the water for his customer. Midvalley shook his head. 'Wonder what his problem is?' He shrugged it off as he waited for his drink.

"Is this seat taken?" a smooth voice asked from beside him.

Midvalley turned in his seat to behold the most beautiful creature he had ever seen in his young life. She had the appearance of an angel, with long, flowing, golden-blond hair that shone where the light beamed down on it. Her smile was marvelous. Her eyes were like pools of ocean water, and he found himself drowning in them.

Midvalley finally snapped out of it when he realized that she had asked him something. "Huh? Oh, no."

The girl smiled and sat down on the stool to the left of him before ordering some orange juice. That was when Midvalley noticed his water had returned. He took the cup in his hand and downed it in one gulp.

"My name's Silvia," the angel-like creature next to him said, still smiling.

Midvalley choked on his water. He banged his chest, trying to ease the water down before gasping for air. "Wha--what?"

The girl raised an eyebrow. "Are you okay?" she asked as she gingerly sipped her orange juice.

"I'm, I'm fine..." he choked out. "What did you say your name was?"

"Silvia. What is yours?"

"I'm, uh...I'm..." he stammered, at a loss for words.

Silvia giggled. "You forgot your own name?"

"I'm sorry, my name is Midvalley the Hornfreak," he replied.

"Midvalley the Hornfreak?" she repeated.

Midvalley nodded. "My real name is embarrassing, so I go by the alias Midvalley the Hornfreak."

The girl nodded. "So, what is your real name?"

"Personal, aren't we?."

"Nothing too personal, I hope."

"It's Alex Boom. " Midvalley said quickly, then sweat-dropped.

Silvia giggled. "That's cute."

The Hornfreak frowned. He wasn't supposed to be cute! He was supposed to be deadly! One of the most feared members in the most feared gang throughout all of Gunsmoke!

"So, you play the Saxophone?" She nodded towards the golden saxophone by his side.

Midvalley glanced down and grabbed his precious instrument. "This is...Silvia."

"Silvia? What a coincidence," she said, admiring his saxophone.

Midvalley nodded. They talked for a few more minutes (or hours) about nothing in particular, and time seemed to fly by fast for the both of them. Suddenly they realized that it was getting late and about time to get going. Midvalley stood up and offered his new friend a hand, which she accepted gratefully.

Midvalley paid the barkeep the money for their drinks and suggested that he walk the young lady home. Of course, she accepted, and then they both were on their way. She lived five blocks from Club Faye, and Midvalley was somewhat relieved. The longer the walk, the more time he had to get to know Silvia.

He tossed his saxophone over his shoulder and fell into step with the golden-blond girl. They were silent for the entire walk, enjoying each other's companionship. Soon, they reached the girl's house.

She stood up on the stoop before turning to Midvalley. "Thank you for a nice night, Midvalley the Hornfreak."

"Will I be able to see you again?" he asked.

Silvia smiled. "I don't know," she said, with sadness in her voice.

Midvalley grabbed a hold of her smaller hands. "Silvia...There's something I must say to you, I can no longer hold it in..."

"Yes?" she inquired, interested in what he had to say.

"Silvia," he started slowly, "I don't know how to say this, but you are like a humanoid version of my saxophone, with the same name. You're just as beautiful, you have a certain shine, and...you're almost exactly alike...but so different in so many ways."

"How are we different?"

Midvalley paused. "Well, you're a human female, and Silvia's a...saxophone."

Silvia sweat-dropped. "That's it...?"

Midvalley thought. "Yes, it is. Silvia...I would very much like it if I could see you again."

Silvia smiled, showing off her pearly whites. "I would like that very much." She took out a piece of paper and a pen from her...pocket. She always kept some handy. O.o She wrote on the paper and handed it to Midvalley before waving goodbye at him and going inside.

Midvalley watched her disappear behind the door and glanced down at the paper. 'Silvia...555-555-5555...' He gently folded the paper and put it in his pants pocket.

He lifted his saxophone up and looked at it. "Don't you give me that look..."

"...."

"...Can't I make some friends?"

"...."

Midvalley frowned. "For a saxophone, you sure get jealous a lot."

"..." --

-----------------

Someplace
Around Midnight

"So, is everything as we planned?"

"Yes sir! The tracks are ready, the cars tuned, racers' information stored. Anything else you want me to do?"

"That is all for now, that it is."

"Not that again!"

"Shut up, that you will!"

"But, boss, that is getting annoying, that it is." A pause. "D'oh! It's contagious!"

"Why do I even bother?"

-----------------

Vash couldn't sleep that night. Try as he might, he just couldn't. He tossed and he turned and he tossed some more, falling off the bed a couple dozen times in the process. The reason behind his anxiousness was Meryl. She was constantly on his mind.

Three days ago, when he and Legato had that stupid duel, Meryl had run off and he had followed her into Augusta Park. She'd looked so troubled, and he had no idea why. He wanted nothing more than to comfort her. He hated to see her cry, though that was the only time he had seen tears in her beautiful eyes, and he never, ever, wanted to see them again, unless they were tears of happiness.

He had never felt this way before in his life, and he didn't know how to deal with it. Sure, Meryl was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen (in his opinion), but beauty wasn't all that. Meryl...she had a great mind and smarts. She wasn't like other girls, and to top it all off, there was something mysterious about her, something that he knew she was hiding. But what could she be hiding? Had something happened to her before she came to Gunsmoke? And what about her family? The only family he knew she had was Nicholas and his folks and little David.

What was it about her that made her so intriguing? So different from other girls? Yep, he was definitely feeling something strong for this Meryl. But he couldn't tell her that...she'd think he was insane and would never talk to him again! He couldn't live with that!

Dream Sequence

Vash and Meryl were standing in front of Kuroneko High. Vash took a deep breath before he spoke. "Meryl, I love you."

The girl looked at him like he was crazy, before bursting into laughter. "Haha, you—you WHAT?! HAHA!" She fell on the ground laughing, and soon, everyone else joined in.

Vash's world started to shatter as the laughter continued and echoed throughout his mind.

End Dream Sequence

Vash shuddered at the thought. Meryl wouldn't just laugh at him like that, she wasn't the type. He had to be more logical...

'Nother Dream Sequence

"Meryl, I love you," Vash whispered lightly as he gazed into Meryl's eyes under the starry sky. "I want to be with you forever."

Meryl eyes started to tear up as she turned away. "Vash...I...we can't."

"Why not, Meryl? I love you."

Tears started to roll down her face. "Vash...it wouldn't work out...you and I...it'll never work."

Vash placed both of his hands on her shoulders. "Yes it will, if we let it."

"Vash, you don't understand! There's no much I don't know about you, and so much you don't know about me!"

"Meryl, please...don't you feel something for me?" he asked, hope in his voice and eyes.

Meryl was silent for a moment. "Vash...I...I don't know what I feel."

Vash dropped his arms in disappointment and rejection. "Oh, I understand..."

Meryl turned to him, her eyes clearly filled with unshed tears. "Vash, I'm sorry...I..."

Vash held up a hand. "Don't speak."

End Dream Sequence

Vash blinked. Well, he supposed it could happen, and it would be easier then her laughing at him. But more depressing and heart-aching...

Yet ANOTHER Dream Sequence

"Meryl..." Vash started, but was interrupted by Meryl.

"Vash..." Meryl started.

"I love you," they finished at the same time, both gazing into each others' eyes.

The distance between them quickly closed as they were caught in a passionate kiss, clinging to each other as if their very lives depended on it.

End Dream Sequence

Vash lay there with a big sappy grin planted on his face. What he would do if that ever happened?! He'd be the luckiest man alive...to share a beautiful, innocent kiss with the woman he loved.

He sighed dreamily as he finally drifted off to sleep, a large grin still on his face as he dreamt about the possible future.

----------------

Knives' room
Around the same time

The room was dark, very dark, and the only source of light was coming from a small lamp on top of a desk piled with large books. Knives frowned, deep in thought as he looked up information. He needed an answer and he needed one now. The light provided by the lamp glimmered off of his face, giving him a creepy, eerie look. He frantically searched the pages of the books that he had 'borrowed' from the local library.

Lately, he had been having these strange feelings. Not the kind of feelings that Vash was having; oh no, far from it. He had also been picking up on more things, such as people's thoughts and emotions, which was driving him to the edge of insanity... more so then he already was.

Something had to be done. And something would be done. Knives chuckled evilly, but paused when something caught his eye. 'What's this?' He scanned the page in hopes that he had finally found what he had been searching for. He grinned as he tore the page from the book before shutting it. He'd take care of business tomorrow, but right then, some sleep was needed. He got into his bed and fell asleep, with a much scarier grin on his face.

On the tear-out piece of paper left on his desk was a picture of two baby boys inside of a tube-looking thing filled with clear liquid, the headline reading: TWO SCIENTIFIC PROJECTS A SUCCESS.

-----------------

Previews of the Next Episode: "Legato," he said to catch the blue-haired boy's attention.

Legato looked up, directly at his master. "Yes, Master Knives?"

Knives took the basketball from Legato's hands and grinned. "How about we challenge Vash to a game of...B-ball?"

Next Episode: All's Fair in Love and Basketball

---------------

Next chapter is sure to be good. Oh, and please, no one hate me for Silvia! /hides/

Club Faye...who would've seen that one coming? And, yeah, I gave one of the Gung-Ho-Guns ('sides Le') a purpose! YAY!

And what did you all think of the dream sequences? Personally, I liked the second one best.

Okay, enough of me blabbering. Just review already! Love and Peace!

SapphireWhiteTigress